Next Goal, A Podium Finish: Adrian Sutil

Sahara Force India have been slow starters over the years. The year 2013 was supposed to be different and that was the case as Adrian Sutil and Paul Di Resta came in seventh and eighth at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

NEW DELHI: Sahara Force India have been slow starters over the years. The year 2013 was supposed to be different and that was the case as Adrian Sutil and Paul Di Resta came in seventh and eighth at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

There might have been double delight at Sepang but faulty wheel-nuts resulted in the team's first double retirement since Japan 2010. The disappointment at the Malaysian Grand Prix notwithstanding, both Sutil and Di Resta are pleased with the start.

"We had a very successful first. We have a very competitive car and it could have been double delight for us in Malaysia had it not been for some technical issues," Sutil told TOI from Shanghai ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Di Resta said, "It was just a design issue but we seem to have it sorted out."

The Scottish driver believes Force India must make the most of this time when McLaren is struggling with pace issues. "McLaren are definitely struggling but they are a team with plenty of resources. They'll figure it out. But while they are in this position we have to make the most of it," Di Resta said.

For Sutil, who spent an entire year on the sidelines, it is time to achieve some goals.

"The first is to get on podium and the sooner that happens, the better. The team has also consistently been in the top 10 and they will be expecting more.

'Team orders are part of F1'

The current raging debate in F1 is about team orders after what transpired in Sepang between Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber as well as the two Mercedes GP drivers. Sutil believes team should prepare for 'scenarios' when it comes to team orders.

"Every team has its own order policy because it is within the rules. I think there is a need to discuss various scenarios and what to do when they crop up to avoid what happened in Sepang," Sutil said.